Col. Jacob Ruppert (1867-1939)

He went into the family's brewing business becoming President of the Jacob Ruppert Brewing Company and of the U.S. Brewers Association. Having entered the historic 7th Regiment of the New York National Guard ("the silk stocking regiment") in 1886, he rose to the rank of Colonel. From 1899, he served four terms representing New York in the U.S. House of Representatives. He is best remembered as the owner of the New York Yankees from 1919 until his death in 1939. During that time he signed Babe Ruth, built Yankee Stadium, and saw the team become the leader of the major leagues. In 1894, he bought the 7-acre South Brother Island in the East River and was the last person to live there. He stopped coming in 1907 and in 1909 what had been his summer home was burned to the ground. In 1919, he bought "Eagle's Rest" (see images) that still stands today as Saint Basil Academy in Garrison, New York. He never married and died without children leaving an estate value at $120-million.